A 64-year-old grandfather was arrested Friday and charged with homicide after being intoxicated when his motorboat struck a channel marker in Barnegat Bay last month, killing his two young grandchildren. Stephen Schneider of Bayville, New Jersey, faces two counts of reckless vessel homicide, along with charges of operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation of a vessel.
The tragedy occurred around 9:09 p.m. on July 19 when Schneider was piloting a 30-foot Tidewater vessel through the Intracoastal Waterway near Berkeley Township. Court documents state that his ability to operate the boat was impaired by alcohol when it struck a wooden channel marker, identified as Intracoastal Waterway Marker 39. The impact ejected his two grandchildren from the boat into the dark waters of Barnegat Bay.
The victims were Mya Bella Golabek, 9, and her brother Sigmund Paul Golabek, 7, both from Lacey Township. Schneider and his wife, Laurie Schneider, 64, immediately recovered the children from the water and brought them to shore. Emergency responders rushed both children to a nearby hospital, but despite their efforts, both were pronounced dead.
The channel marker that the boat struck was fully operational at the time of the crash, with its lights functioning properly, according to authorities. Berkeley Township Councilman James Byrnes witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy and spoke about the emergency response efforts. “The firemen jumped right in” to try to save them, Byrnes told local news. He noted that “The one child had a life jacket next to him. Of course, with CPR being performed, they’re going to remove it.”
The children are remembered as remarkably close siblings. According to their obituaries, “A sibling bond is a love that lasts forever. Mya and Siggy were not only brother and sister, but best friends who shared laughter, adventures, and countless memories. Now they continue their journey together, hand in hand, carrying their love beyond this world and leaving behind a beautiful reminder of the unbreakable bond they shared.”
Mya, born April 6, 2017, was described as a sweet, fun-loving girl who excelled in softball and basketball and loved swimming and spending time at the beach. She enjoyed crabbing with family and expressing her creativity through drawing and crafts. Her obituary notes that “Mya’s beautiful smile, kind heart, and joyful personality made her someone truly special. She had a way of bringing happiness wherever she went and making those around her feel loved.”
Sigmund, 7, was also an active child who loved baseball, basketball, and swimming. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and shared a deep affection for the family’s two dogs, Tequila and Captain. Both children were the only two children of their parents, Jennifer and Sigmund Golabek.
Schneider voluntarily surrendered himself to the Berkeley Township Police Department in Ocean County, where he was arrested on Friday, August 14. He was processed and lodged in the Ocean County jail pending future court hearings. According to public records, Schneider lives in a waterfront home valued at approximately one million dollars in the Bayville section of Ocean County.
Byrnes reflected on the profound impact the tragedy has had on the tight-knit community. “They’re going to be living with this forever in our hearts, and our thoughts go out to the family,” he said. The incident has shaken residents across Ocean County, with the community grappling with the loss of two young lives in what should have been a pleasant family outing.
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.